Clinical Case Manager - SAGE

Downtown Emergency Service Center•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Clinical Case Manager works as part of a multidisciplinary, multi-departmental team in DESC’s SAGE outpatient mental health program, supporting adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses. The role provides long-term, recovery-focused case management to help consumers obtain and maintain housing, improve clinical and social stability, and increase independence and self-sufficiency. The position collaborates with DESC’s Scattered Sites Supportive Housing team and community providers to coordinate care, housing retention, and access to services. The case manager conducts outreach and engagement, psychosocial assessments, and goal planning with consumers; coordinates psychiatric and substance use treatment, support services, and practical resources; and advocates for consumers’ rights and access to community services. Duties also include local travel for outreach and home visits, housing-related support and documentation, crisis intervention and risk assessment, counseling when qualified, and serving as a protective payee for some consumers. The role supports healthy living conditions in clients’ homes and maintains clinical and administrative records in accordance with agency policies and deadlines. The position is full-time, with an office day shift from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays off. It is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW. Salary is $39.08–$43.15 per hour.

Requirements

Ability to meet Washington Department of Health requirements for registration as a Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) or another superseding credential.
Relevant bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related behavioral science, or a combination of one year of relevant paid work experience and demonstrated ability to perform the required job duties.
Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle for agency-related business.
Current Washington State driver’s license and an insurable driving record.
Interest in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health or substance use disorder programs.
Knowledge of recovery-focused, strengths-based work in mental health.
Knowledge of harm reduction strategies.
Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behaviors.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
Commitment to cooperation and continuity across programs and consideration and respect for consumers.

Nice To Haves

Eligibility for a Licensed AAC credential or another superseding credential meeting RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional, with a scope of practice that includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses.
Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or another relevant behavioral science.
Bilingual Spanish and English skills.
Bicultural background or experience and/or Qualified Minority Mental Health Specialist designation.

Responsibilities

Participate in a multidisciplinary and multi-departmental team providing ongoing case management to adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
Collaborate with DESC’s Scattered Sites Supportive Housing team to develop client care and housing retention plans.
Provide outreach and engagement to assigned clients and maintain working relationships with them.
Conduct psychosocial assessments, develop goal planners with consumer participation, and facilitate connections to collaborative resources.
Coordinate all aspects of consumers’ support and goal planners, including psychiatric treatment, substance abuse treatment, 24-hour support services, and acute case management.
Facilitate consumer access to food, clothing, housing, medical care, financial assistance, and vocational training or employment.
Advocate for consumers’ access to community resources and services, protection of their rights, and fulfillment of their needs; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
Travel locally for outreach and home visits; assist with home inspections and annual recertifications; report maintenance concerns and housing retention barriers.
Provide crisis intervention and risk assessment, and work effectively with unusual or unpleasant behavior.
Provide counseling when qualified.
Serve as protective payee for some consumers, including creating monthly budgets with consumers, distributing funds, and assisting with purchases.
Build and maintain professional relationships with landlords and property managers, assisting with building rule enforcement and lease compliance as needed.
Support clients in achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions, including attending care conferences, providing in-unit outreach and support, coordinating with housing staff, participating in unit cleanouts, and documenting barriers.
Document services provided and meet administrative deadlines.
Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings, in-service trainings, clinical reviews, and case conferences.
Attend internal and external trainings related to landlord/tenant laws, housing vouchers, and other relevant topics.
Comply with clinical accountability policies and procedures, maintain complete and current records, and participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.
Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures and perform other duties as assigned.